The Death of John the Baptist

Today's Reflection

                                               

The Death of John the Baptist

Mt 14:1-12

¹Herod the tetrarch heard of the reputation of Jesus ²and said to his servants, “This man is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him.”

³Now Herod had arrested John, bound [him], and put him in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, ⁴for John had said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” ⁵Although he wanted to kill him, he feared the people, for they regarded him as a prophet. ⁶But at a birthday celebration for Herod, the daughter of Herodias performed a dance before the guests and delighted Herod ⁷so much that he swore to give her whatever she might ask for. ⁸Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” ⁹The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests who were present, he ordered that it be given, ¹⁰and he had John beheaded in the prison. ¹¹His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. ¹²His disciples came and took away the corpse and buried him; and they went and told Jesus.

He had John beheaded in the prison. John the Baptist challenges the union of Herod and Herodias. “It is not lawful for you to have her” (v 4), he says in no uncertain terms. Herodias is the sister-in-law of Herod and a relationship between them is expressly prohibited by law (Lv 18:16). Fearing that John, who is highly respected by the people, might lead a rebellion against him, Herod imprisons John and later orders him killed. The Baptist’s death prefigures that of his cousin Jesus who also preaches about repentance and truth.

Canonized on October 21, 2012, Pedro Calungsod was killed centuries earlier in faraway Ladrones, now known as Marianas, in Guam. He died in the hands of one who not only did not share his faith but must have hated what it stood for. His death is considered by the Church in odium fidei, literally, in hatred of the faith, referring to the persecution endured by persons involved in evangelization. The cost of standing for the truth, of spreading God’s word, could be tremendous, but its reward is immeasurable.

In the face of trial and suffering, let us pray

with the Psalmist: “Here I am miserable and in pain;

let your saving help protect me, God” (Ps 69:30).